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Fargo golfer qualifies for U.S. Open

Amy Anderson, an NDSU sophomore from Oxbow, will play in the prestigious U.S. Open this July in Colorado. Forum file photo

MEDINA, Minn. - Less than two days after playing with some of the best college golfers in the nation, North Dakota State's Amy Anderson earned a chance Monday to play with some of the world's best professionals.

Anderson, a sophomore from Oxbow, won Monday's U.S. Open Minnesota sectional qualifier at the Medina Country Club. She now gets to play in the prestigious U.S. Open to be played July 4-10 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Anderson was one of 36 golfers vying for two spots to qualify for the Open. Anderson carded scores of 71 and 70 to finish 3-under par and place first by one stroke ahead of second-place finisher Kelly Shon.

"I felt I had a chance if I played well," said Anderson, who missed qualifying for the Open the last two years. "I just wasn't quite sure how it was going to go for me."

Anderson was still in College Station, Texas, Saturday after she placed 12th in the NCAA Division I Tournament. On three hours of sleep, Anderson flew to Minneapolis Sunday expecting to play a practice round at Medina.

But Sunday's severe thunderstorms canceled those practice rounds.

"To me that was a huge relief because I was completely exhausted," said Anderson, who walked the course with her brother Nathan on Sunday. "I got a good night's sleep and was ready to go."

Anderson said she hit the ball well off the tees, a necessity on the narrow fairways of Medina. Anderson also said she made a lot of putts - enough to sink five birdies during her first round and four more in the second round.

Anderson ended up beating out 34 other golfers for the top qualifying spot, including eight professionals.

"This didn't shock me because I knew she could do it," said NDSU golf coach Matt Johnson. "I was just concerned how she would get ready both mentally and physically."

With no tournaments scheduled until the U.S. Open, Anderson now has time to rest and work on her game.

Two years ago, Anderson won the U.S. Junior Girls Amateur Championship in New Jersey. A few weeks later, she led the first round of stroke play at the U.S. Women's Amateur in St. Louis before finishing eighth and being eliminated in the first round of match play.

Now, Anderson has a chance to play in one of the biggest national tournaments of them all.

"This is a really big deal," Johnson said.

More than 150 professionals and amateurs will converge on The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for the U.S. Open, which is expected to attract 125,000 spectators.

The Open will be broadcast worldwide on ESPN and NBC.

"I'm excited," Anderson said. "And I know all the people back in Fargo are too. That's the best part of all this ... all the support I get from everybody back home."